How to transition military skills to civilian jobs?

If I start my career in the military after high school, how hard is it to pivot to civilian jobs later? I'm interested in learning which military skills transfer well and what additional education or certification might be needed.

Transitioning from a military role to a civilian job might seem daunting, but many of the skills you pick up in the military transfer quite well into the civilian world. Here are some areas where skills may directly or indirectly transfer:

1. Leadership: The military puts a great deal of emphasis on leadership and management, and these skills are highly valued in every industry. Your ability to lead a team, make decisions under pressure, and manage resources can make you an asset in many roles.

2. Technical Skills: Depending on your role in the military, you may have acquired specific technical abilities such as operating machinery, logistics, IT development and security, maintenance, healthcare provision, and more. These hard skills translate very well into the civilian job market.

3. Soft Skills: Discipline, initiative, teamwork, adaptability, and effective communication are all highly valued soft skills in the civilian workplace.

4. Problem-Solving Skills: Military training often involves strategy and tactics, teaching service members to analyze situations, make decisions and solve problems – an asset in many civilian roles.

5. Cultural Competence: Serving in the military often provides opportunities to interact with diverse people and cultures. This global perspective can be beneficial in many professional roles.

It's important to identify your translatable skills and articulate them effectively on your resume, in job interviews, and in networking situations. Also, consider getting assistance from military transition assistance programs or career counselors who specialize in transitioning veterans to civilian careers.

As for additional education or certification, it depends on the industry you want to transfer into. For some sectors, such as IT, a certification could be beneficial. For others, like business, an advanced degree like an MBA could be more useful. Look into job postings in the fields you're interested in to see if most listings require specific certifications or degrees.

Finally, remember to utilize resources such as the GI Bill for further education, and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) for job training assistance. These resources can help you to further develop skills and credentials for your civilian job hunt.